Answer:
Introduction: (5 points)
Before diving into each topic, it's important to understand why alternative energies are important. Fossil fuels are limited resources that produce harmful emissions and contribute to climate change. Therefore, we must turn to alternative energies to reduce our reliance on these resources and mitigate their negative impacts on the environment. In this presentation, we will discuss five alternative energies: Biomass, Geothermal, Hydroelectric, Hydrogen, Solar Power, and Wind Energy.
Biomass: (10 points)
1.
Biomass refers to organic matter, such as wood, crops, and waste, that can be converted into energy. Biomass can be used as a substitute for gasoline to run cars, trucks or buses.
2.
Biomass can be used to heat homes through wood stoves, pellet stoves, and biomass boilers.
3.
Advantages of biomass include its renewability, availability, and its ability to reduce waste. However, it can also lead to deforestation, land-use change, and pollution.
4.
Biomass energy production involves converting potential energy (stored in biomass) into kinetic energy (in the form of steam), which is then used to generate electricity.
Geothermal:
5.
Geothermal energy comes from the heat within the Earth's crust.
6.
Geothermal energy can be used to create electricity through steam turbines.
7.
Geothermal energy can be used directly to heat homes and factories through geothermal heat pumps.
8.
A heat pump is a device that transfers heat from a colder area to a hotter area.
9.
Advantages of geothermal energy include its reliability, low emissions, and its ability to provide heating and cooling. However, it can also lead to land subsidence, water pollution, and seismic activity.
Hydroelectric:
10.
Hydroelectric power is electricity generated from the movement of water.
11.
Moving water turns a turbine, which spins a generator to produce electricity. The dam is used to regulate the flow of water and to control the amount of electricity generated.
12.
Advantages of hydroelectric power include its renewability, efficiency, and ability to provide flood control. However, it can also lead to the displacement of communities, harm aquatic life, and reduce downstream water availability.
13.
The Hoover Dam in Nevada is an example of a hydroelectric power plant.
Hydrogen:
14.
Using hydrogen as a fuel source involves combining it with oxygen to produce energy in the form of electricity and water vapor.
15.
Hydrogen is found in water, fossil fuels, and organic matter.
16.
Advantages of using hydrogen as a fuel source include its renewability, abundance, and its ability to reduce emissions. However, it can also be expensive to produce, transport, and store.
17.
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity. It works by passing hydrogen through an anode, where it is oxidized, producing electrons and protons. The electrons flow through a circuit to produce electricity, while the protons pass through a membrane to the cathode, where they combine with oxygen to form water.
Solar Power:
18.
Solar energy is energy from the sun that can be converted into electricity.
19.
A solar cell is made of a semiconductor material, such as silicon, that absorbs photons from the sun and generates electrons. These electrons flow through a circuit to produce electricity.
20.
Advantages of solar energy include its renewability, low emissions, and its ability to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. However, it can also be expensive to install, dependent on weather conditions, and can lead to land-use change.
21.
The Topaz Solar Farm in California is an example of solar energy being used in the U.S.
Wind Energy
22.
Wind energy is a type of renewable energy that comes from the wind. Wind energy is generated by the movement of air across the earth's surface caused by differences in temperature and pressure. Wind turbines are used to convert wind energy into electrical energy.
23.
Wind energy is converted into electrical energy by wind turbines. The turbines are equipped with blades that capture the wind and spin a rotor. The rotor turns a shaft, which drives a generator that produces electricity.
24.
Advantages of wind energy include:
- Wind energy is a renewable source of energy that does not emit harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases.
- Wind turbines can be installed on a small or large scale, making it suitable for both individual and industrial use.
- Wind energy can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to a more sustainable energy mix.
Disadvantages of wind energy include:
- Wind turbines can be noisy and may cause visual pollution.
- Wind energy production is intermittent, meaning that wind turbines do not produce electricity when the wind is not blowing.
- Wind turbines can be dangerous to birds and bats.
25.
Alta Wind Energy Center in California is an example of a wind energy project in the US. It is one of the largest wind farms in the world, with a total capacity of 1,548 MW.